The proposed new Havre de Grace Middle/High School replacement facility will be the focus Monday as the Harford County Board of Education plans an early evening work session followed by a business meeting and vote on educational specifications for the $87 million project. The Board’s business meeting agenda also includes approval of promotions and appointments recommended by Superintendent Barbara Canavan.
Proposed educational specifications for a combined facility to replace both Havre de Grace High School and Havre de Grace Middle School were first made public on July 21st. Board approval of the specifications are a necessary step in the planning process leading up to a request for state and local funding. However, Board members questioned elements of the proposed educational specifications, which were crafted by a committee of school officials, design professionals and community members.
Specifically, Board members questioned the size and expense of the facility, particularly in light of flat enrollment projections for the attendance area. The proposed 240,000 sq. ft. replacement facility will be designed for 1,300 students, with core areas sized to allow for enrollment growth to 1,600 students, according to the proposed specifications. Currently, combined enrollment for the middle and high school is fewer than 1,200 students, according to school officials.
Some Board members also questioned the choice of a magnet program in Information Technology Computer Science for the high school, and requested a work session for further review of the overall specifications.
A 55-minute work session is set for 5:00 p.m. Monday in the A.A. Roberty Building in Bel Air. The work session is open to the public, with a public comment period planned for 5:05 p.m.
Following the Monday work session, the Board plans a business meeting at 6:30 p.m., with a public comment period set for 6:50 p.m.
Following public comment, the Board plans to vote on the proposed educational specifications. The only other business on the August 4th agenda is approval of promotions and appointments recommended by Superintendent Canavan, and announced at the meeting by Jean Mantegna, assistant superintendent for human resources.
The business meeting is set to conclude with a report from Superintendent Canavan.
The published meeting agenda for August 4th appears below. Please note that published agendas are subject to change.
Agenda
Monday, August 4, 2014
Board Work Session – 5:00 PM – Board Room
Board Open Session – 5:55 PM – Board Room
Board Closed Session – 6:00 PM – Board Executive Conference Room
Board Business Meeting – 6:30 PM – Board Room
*Times are approximate6:30 PM
Call to Order: Board President– Quorum Roll Call
– Adoption of Agenda
– Pledge of Allegiance6:35 PM Board Committee Reports and Comments
6:50 PM Public CommentOld Business
7:00 PM A. Decision on Appointments and Promotions, Mrs. Jean Mantegna (Goal 3)7:10 PM B. Decision on Havre de Grace Middle/High Replacement School Educational Specifications, Mr. Joe Licata, Mr. Cornell Brown, Mr. Joe Schmitz, Mr. Rob Limpert, Mr. Chris Morton, Ms. Ariana Langord, Ms. Sue Garrett (Goal 4)
Closing
8:10 PM Future Meetings Review
Adjournment
I can see a lot of planning went into this project that David Craig rammed down our throats. First let’s build a new school because “It’s our Turn”. Then justify it because part of the building was built in 1955, but completely renovated in 1984. How many of the school board members tear their houses down every thirty years?
The plan is it sandwich the new school building between the old middle school building, Community Activity Center, Lilly Run Flood zone and the high speed rail line. I can’t think of a more unsafe location. Just consider what happened in Lac-Megantic Canada.
The current Middle School has a capacity of 775 students. The new proposed school will seat 550. The enrolled students in the three feeder schools right now total 1090. What happens to the 540 children? Where do they sit in portable classrooms when they go to the sixth grade? The same applies to the current high school. It holds 850 students and the new school only holds 750.
HCPS admits that enrollments are declining throughout the system. The thing to do now is redistrict the schools and stop wasting tax payer money building schools that are not needed and use the money to pay quality teachers.
Capacity of 550 for the middle school seems correct. The middle school has 3 grades which works out to 183 per grade level. The feeder schools have 6 grades or 182 per grade level.
At least they may have that part figured out. It is still a huge waste of tax payer $$$$$. Good thing Craig didn’t get voted to be our next governor – just think of what he would have done with all those billions of $$$.
Have you been inside the school? If so, please tell me what renovations were done in 1984. You really can’t tell. Also tell me what other schools have a road traveling through it and another busy road between the school and it’s athletic fields/outdoor gym space.
Why was Aberdeen High replaced? Why was Edgewood High replaced? Why was Bel Air High replaced? Why was NHHS re-done? Why was Patterson Mill built so small if BAHS is still at capacity? Why isn’t Fallston redistricted since it is so under capacity?
Youth’s Benefit? Where’s the outrage there? oh, that’s right, there is nothing political you can try to associate with that. We have an elected school board now that approved the school. We have a state committee that thinks its a good idea, that isn’t exactly on the same side as Craig, yet here you are making it about politics.
Earlier this evening, the school board approved the Havre de Grace MS/HS ed specs as originally proposed.